Aston Villa hero Stan Collymore has admitted that he would ‘throw the kitchen sink’ at hiring a proven manager to replace Dean Smith as the Midland giants sleepwalk towards relegation, speaking to the Mirror (30 June, page 47).
If Villa fans were hoping that their submerged side would emerge from a three-month lay-off rejuvenated and ready to fight for survival, it’s fair to say they will have been disappointed by what they’ve witnessed over the last fortnight.
A toothless defeat at home to near neighbours Wolves on Saturday means the former European champions have picked up just two points from a possible 12 since Premier League football returned.
Aston Villa have failed to score a single goal from open play during that time either.
And, it wasn’t for a puzzling Goal-Line Technology mix-up, they’d have lost against Sheffield United too.
As a result, the clamour for Smith’s head is growing amongst an increasingly impatient fanbase with Collymore firmly of the belief that only a change in the dugout can save Villa now.
“The big question for all Aston Villa fans now is; what’s the plan? Do they want to keep Dean Smith and John Terry but lose Jack Grealish and John McGinn?,” Collymore muses with his former side stuck in 19th.
“I’d throw the kitchen sink at getting a big-name manager now. It would be one last hit at staying up and if a new boss were able to do that then those two mercurial talents might just want to stay and play for him next season.”
Of course, there is one man available who has a rather impressive track record when it comes to saving clubs from the drop.
Could ‘Fireman Sam’ Allardyce be brought out of retirement for one last job?
The former Crystal Palace, Bolton and Blackburn boss might be the arch-pragmatist to Smith’s purist but Villa don’t need pretty, passing football right now.
They need results, and fast.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
